Michelangelo Merisi and Caravaggio. The artist's works, interesting facts about his life

"Bacchus", "Lutnist", "The situation in the coffin" - all these paintings, known to any connoisseur of medieval paintings, created by Michelangelo Merisi and Caravaggio. The works of the creator who made a huge impact on the development of painting are so perfect and numerous that it seems as if he lived up to 100 years, and did not die at 39. What is known about this mysterious man, about which contemporaries and descendants composed many stories, often not Have anything to do with the truth?

Childhood and youth

If the researchers are not mistaken, in 1571 in a small Italian town appeared the brilliant creator Caravaggio. The works created by him in the first years of his life, unfortunately, did not reach our contemporaries. The boy was born in the family of a wealthy architect, but after 6 years he lost his father, who was taken by the plague (according to other sources, typhus).

By the age of 13 it became clear how capable of painting Caravaggio. The works of the beginning creator made an impression on Simone Petzano, who in 1584 agreed to take the gifted teenager to his studio for training. Michelangelo spent only six years as a pupil, since in 1590 he lost his mother, who also died of a disease. The young man received his part of the inheritance and entered into an independent life.

The works of the artist Caravaggio are beautiful, but the creator himself was inclined to various vices, like many other creative personalities. He loved spending time, indulging in gambling, arranging friendly drinking. Not surprisingly, in Rome, the artist was without a penny in his pocket.

Black line

The first years of life in the Eternal City were unsuccessful for Caravaggio. The works written in that period can hardly be called successful. In the bulk, these were unpretentious handicrafts, the stamping of which he was engaged in, working in the studio of a certain Sichiliano. Pursuing the artist's poverty eventually leads him to a hospital bed. Cured, he, after a while, again returns to the hospital for the poor, unsuccessfully falling from the horse.

After recovery, he refuses the help of intermediaries and tries to work independently. It is possible that the artist returns to the inspiration after a long break, since during this period he creates such paintings as "Repentant Magdalene", "Fortuneteller predicting fate". Later, the researchers will call them among the best works of Caravaggio. Works (paintings) help him find the first serious patron, who becomes Cardinal Monte.

An influential seigneur not only shares food with him, but also provides him with rich clients, which allows Michelangelo to forget about financial problems. The glory of the creator is growing, with the black band finished.

Favorite stories

The works of the artist Caravaggio is extremely difficult to confuse with the canvases written by other masters, no matter how talented they were. The revolutionary refuses the traditional idealization of religious subjects for that time. Characters that come to life in his paintings look like real people. He thus presents Greek and Roman gods, biblical apostles, martyrs.

Each hero, without exception, is endowed with an emphasis on individuality, if Caravaggio worked on his creation. The works, the genius's work amaze with their dramatic nature, they make an indelible impression. Not all customers agreed to accept their orders when they saw the result. The fighters for "traditional" painting even often declared the paintings of the master indecent.

Innovations Caravaggio

What kind of contribution did the artist make to the development of painting? He is credited with many different merits. Still life, everyday genre - these were not fashionable until the appearance of works by Caravaggio. Italian painting (and then the world) was enriched with new directions thanks to Michelangelo. He desperately struggled with the tradition of sharing genres, denoting "low" and "high" directions.

The system of painting, which the artist addressed, was unique at that time. He focused on the foreground, seeking its bright lighting. The background became indistinct, unattractive. Such a combination provided an optical approximation effect. It seemed that the objects came to life in the paintings of Caravaggio. Works, the biography of the creator - all testifies to the fact that he spent hours working on the drawing of the smallest details that look insignificant at first glance.

Early period of creativity

The artist, creating his first known canvases, plays the role of an innovator challenging the established traditions, which he does not refuse in the future. In the period from 1591 to 1995 he creates such famous paintings as Lutnist, Bacchus, The Boy with Fruits. By the way, the Hermitage is a must-see place for those who like the works written during this period of Caravaggio. The gallery provides visitors with the opportunity to admire the Lutnist.

All these paintings, which took a place of honor in the creative heritage of Michelangelo, are combined with an approach to the choice of heroes. As a rule, such people become "out of the crowd". Caravaggio with pleasure draws portraits of ordinary young men, fascinating sensual and at the same time rude beauty, transfers on paper images of boys "from the people". He depicts street musicians and merchants, gipsies and dandies.

The well-known painter also refers to the subject of violence, as demonstrated by such canvases as "Judith and Holofernes", "The Sacrifice of Abraham". Some of his paintings containing violent scenes are even frightening, since the author gives maximum impact to naturalism.

Late works of the artist

The paintings that the creator creates in the last years of life are also of great value. For example, he writes a series of canvases, the main character of which becomes Saint Matthew. The most famous of them is "Appeal of the Apostle Matthew". The evangelical legend comes to life in a shabby little room, people of the people who are loved by a genius become participants in the famous scene. He creates other works devoted to this subject of Caravaggio, the life and death of St. Matthew becomes a subject for him repeatedly.

Road to death

Despite the recognition, which was awarded to the talent of the master even during his lifetime, he spent the last few years hiding from the authorities. Michelangelo is repeatedly in prison, charged with various crimes. Having killed a man in a duel, he secretly leaves Rome, traveling from city to city. Some time the artist spends in Malta, even passes the initiation into knights, then leaves for Naples. Death overtakes him at 39 years of age, the cause of which is malaria.

Interesting Facts

Pictures - this is not all that got our contemporaries from Caravaggio. Works, self-portraits can tell a lot about him, but researchers' research provides even more complete information. For example, it is known that the Italian never married, did not leave descendants. It is believed that he preferred unisexual ties, which is indirectly confirmed by his love for the image of half-naked young men.

Interestingly, the film about the life and death of Caravaggio was released in 1986. In the role of the man with whom the artist is in a romantic relationship, in this tape appears Sean Bean. Nowhere, except for the film "Caravaggio", the actor did not play more homosexual.

Today, canvases written by Caravaggio can not be purchased. But any of them would cost about $ 100 million, get it to the auction.